Call for Action: Benzodiazepine Prescription Prevalence Analysis Shows Off-Label Prescription in One in Eleven Citizens.

Objective: Benzodiazepines have a good safety profile. Nevertheless, off-label use of these drugs may increase the risk of falls, dependence, and memory loss. Off-label prescription use is not highly prevalent.

Antipsychotic polypharmacy in a regional health service: a population-based study.

Background: To analyse the extent and profile of outpatient regular dispensation of antipsychotics, both in combination and monotherapy, in the Barcelona Health Region (Spain), focusing on the use of clozapine and long-acting injections (LAI).

Methods: Antipsychotic drugs dispensed for people older than 18 and processed by the Catalan Health Service during 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. First and second generation antipsychotic drugs (FGA and SGA) from the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification (ATC) code N05A (except lithium) were included.

Policies to enhance the efficiency of prescribing in the Spanish Catalan region: impact and future direction.

Aim: To assess the impact of recent national and regional initiatives on the utilization and expenditure of four high-volume classes to provide future guidance. These were proton pump inhibitors, statins and ezetimibe, and renin-angiotensin drugs, as well as newer antidepressants.

Methods: An observational study of prescriptions dispensed in ambulatory care in Catalonia was conducted from 2003 to 2007.

Returned medicines in community pharmacies of Barcelona, Spain.

Objective: To monitor the amount of unused drugs and the cost to the public health system. Setting A random sample of community pharmacies in Barcelona, Spain. Method The drugs were collected from 38 community pharmacies over a period of 7 consecutive working days (excluding Sundays).

Gastrointestinal quality of life after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) is a commonly performed bariatric surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity (MO). Obesity-related co-morbidities reduce the quality and expectancy of life. We assessed gastrointestinal quality of life in patients following LRYGBP.